A once in a lifetime opportunity

Local boy to sing in first provincial children's choir

Eleven-year-old Adam Gaudet sings a song in preparation for this weekend's Children's Chorus of Nova Scotia concert. Gaudet is the only student from Cumberland North Academy singing in the event, which is the first of its kind in the province. The Grade 6 student will also be a part of a recording of O Canada, which will be distributed to schools throughout Nova Scotia. Raissa Tetanish - Amherst Daily News

He sings while cleaning his room, and is a part of two choirs at Cumberland North Academy.

This weekend, the Grade 6 French Immersion student will have an opportunity not many will have - to sing with the first provincial children's choir.

"I enjoy singing and it's fun singing with a group of people," said Adam, while rehearsing with instructor Nancy Tucker for the final time before leaving for Halifax with his family.

Just before Christmas, Tucker found out she was able to invite up to six students to the Children's Chorus of Nova Scotia. She sent home letters with students, however only three responded they would be interested.

Of those three, Adam is the only one that was able to make it to the concert this weekend.

"He is a great choir member and always faithful about coming to practice," Tucker said about Adam, whom she's taught since he arrived at the school last year.

"He's an amazing singer. He had a try out for me last year, but we didn't have enough interest for a boys choir, but he's very good. The improvement that I've seen in his singing and his range, it's amazing."

Normally, Adam practices choirs two days per week - once with the boys choir, once with the Cumberland County Singers.

Since being chosen for the provincial choir, Adam's been staying an extra half-hour both those days to practice with Tucker.

Friday and Saturday, Adam will spend all day in rehearsal in Halifax, until 8 p.m.

On Sunday, he'll head to a session with CBC where the singers will record O Canada. The song will be distributed to schools throughout the province.

Following the recording session, Adam will report to the United Memorial Church on Kaye Street for a 3 p.m. concert under internationally renowned Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield.

The choir is a new initiative run by the Nova Scotia Choral Federation developed to give singers between 10 and 15 years an opportunity to achieve choral excellence.

Eleven-year-old Adam Gaudet sings a song in preparation for this weekend's Children's Chorus of Nova Scotia concert. Gaudet is the only student from Cumberland North Academy singing in the event, which is the first of its kind in the province. The Grade 6 student will also be a part of a recording of O Canada, which will be distributed to schools throughout Nova Scotia. Raissa Tetanish - Amherst Daily News